My wife’s cheeks were flushed deep enough to see in the dark. “Watching you squirm is almost as fun as watching you come, rusty.” I quickly washed my hands. “Come on. I gotta get you home. I need to shower. And then I’m getting between your legs again.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Gideon
My inbox was a nightmare. I rubbed my eyes. Some lingering stiffness remained from working outside for three days, but it didn’t compare to the way my body wanted to revolt after sitting behind my laptop yesterday and today.
I groaned, rolled my neck, and rose. I paced the kitchen and out to the living room. Sprinkles was curled in a ball on the couch, nestled in the blue fleece blanket Autumn curled up in when she was grading papers. The cat lifted her head and mewed. I scratched around her ears. Sometimes, she sat at the table in the chair next to me and snoozed.
“Was I too boring for you?”
She tucked her head back into her paws and ignored me.
A ping sounded from the kitchen. My goddamn email. I’d turned notifications on. I’d been restless today,drifting off when I was supposed to be paying attention in a meeting.
The newest email was from Taya. Normal reports to prep for next week’s meetings.
Meeting after fucking meeting.
I rubbed the back of my neck. I owed Taya a call. She’d been patient and she’d said it was about work, in a way.
I called her, putting the speaker on so I could continue pacing.
“About time, Gideon,” she said, annoyance ripe in her tone.
“I’d apologize, but you’ve noticed I’ve been working the entirety of my leave.”
“Which is for . . .”
“Something that’s almost taken care of.” That was all she’d get. “What’d you need to talk about?”
She sighed. “Gideon. What’s changed? You were rude to me at your place, I can’t get back in, and now you take two damn weeks to return my call.”
“You tried getting into my apartment?”
“I worked late one night and thought I’d crash there. Imagine my surprise when my code didn’t work.” Hurt lined the sarcasm. “Anyway, I’m just confused. You stand me up for a VIP visit, then there’s a redhead in your place, and now you’ve been gone for weeks. The board keeps asking me if I’m confident you’ll return, and honestly, Gideon, I have no idea. Before that morning, when I walked in on whatever that was, I’d have told them you were never leaving.”
I kept my personal life to myself. I wasn’t giving Taya an explanation, but I couldn’t deny I’d hurt her feelings. Her confusion was also valid. Before I’d met Autumn inthat elevator, I’d have said I’d never ditch work for a month. But my business wasn’t settled. “Something came up and it’s private.”
“Right.” A brisk exhale gusted over the line. “Whatever.”
“Is this something that can wait until I return?”
“I should’ve let him hunt you down. Thenhecould get frustrated and give up.”
I rubbed my temples. I didn’t care either way.
My silence must’ve told her to keep talking or hang up. “You remember Harold Washington?”
He was an early-stage venture capitalist. His thing was to invest in a new business, usually a casino or hotel or combo, and then, when the profits were good, pull out and invest a portion into another business. He had his wealthy fingers in a lot of pots. My bosses had approached him for Silver, but he’d been entering into a deal on a high-rise in Phoenix at the time. But he liked to stop in and chat with board members when they were in town. I’d been to many networking events with him. “Yes, I remember Harold.”
“He wants to start a new investment group.” Excitement pitched her voice higher. “He wants you and me on the team.”
“He offered us a job?”
“Not just a job.” She spoke faster. “He told me his plans for a new hotel and casino. On the Strip, Gideon.”
Prime realty for a hotel and casino in Vegas. “But Silver’s doing well.” I felt like a dunce. I should be getting as thrilled as she was. Working with Harold would change my career, supercharge it. I was doing well as a CEO. I had a nest egg I could retire off of now. Add a little risk and Harold’s innate business savvy, and I’d befly-to-space rich. I wouldn’t have to grind away twelve hours a day, seven days a week.
